Legal basis is the Trade Marks Act of 1994.
A registration provides protection for the trademark in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and automatically extends to the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Falkland Islands, and the Isle of Man. On the Bahamas, subject to local prior rights, the owner of a UK trademark is entitled to registration upon production of a UK registration certificate.
Trademark protection is available in the following countries through extension of an existing UK mark: Cayman Islands, Gambia, Jersey, Kiribati, Saint Helena, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu. In Grenada, a new trademark Act was introduced in 2012, which abolishes the UK-based system. Under the transitional provisions however, existing UK-based registrations shall continue to have effect as if registered under the new Act.
In addition to local registration, it is also possible to apply for registration based on a UK trademark in the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Dominica, Fiji, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Guyana, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Virgin Islands and Western Samoa.
The UK is a member of the Madrid Protocol and the European Union.
Trademark protection is obtained by registration. It can also be acquired by sufficient public recognition.
The UK is a “common law“ jurisdiction, i. e. official and juridical decisions on the Trade Marks Act of 1994 are rendered on the basis of prior decisions and judgements on similar cases.

Nice classification, 10th edition

Registrable as a trademark are all distinctive and graphically representable signs, such as words, names, acronyms, letters, numbers, devices, emblems, holograms, colours, colour combinations, the three-dimensional form of a good or its packaging as well as sound marks, olfactory marks and any combination of the mentioned signs.
The following trademark types are registrable: trademarks, service marks, collective marks, certification marks.

The application is filed at the UK Intellectual Property Office. Multiple class applications are possible.
Foreign applicants do not need a local agent. A postal address within the UK is required. A power of attorney is not necessary.
Foreign applicants do not need a domestic registration.
The application process includes an examination on absolute grounds and a search for prior trade marks. Signs not deemed distinctive can be accepted for publication if distinctiveness has been acquired by use.
The processing time from first filing to registration is approx. 6 to 9 months. The first office action is taken after approx. 4 to 6 weeks.
Before registration, the application is published in the weekly “Trademarks Journal” for opposition purposes. The trademark will then proceed to registration, unless other reasons prevent the registration.

National:
The deadline for filing an opposition period is 2 months from publication date of a trademark application in the Trade Marks Journal on or after 31 March 2013. This means that for any UK trade mark application that is published on 1 February 2013 or afterwards, the opposition period lasts for 2 months gross (ie: a trade mark application published on 1 February will be open to third party opposition until 1 April 2013 - instead of 31 March 2013 under the old regime).

Opposition against designation of IR Mark
(The period starts from the national publication date, if not stated differently):
2 months

Upon registration, protection backdates to the day of application. A trademark registration is valid for 10 years from date of application. The registration is renewable for periods of 10 years.

If the trademark has not been used within 5 continuous years following registration it may be subject to cancellation. Subsequent use of the trademark can restore protection if no party has requested its revocation due to non-use in the meantime.

The official fee is GBP 200.00 (approx. EUR 230.00) for one class and GBP 50.00 (approx. EUR 57.00) for each additional class. From October 1st, 2009, applications made through the online application form (e-TM3), which include the full payment at the time of filing, will qualify for a discount of GBP 30.00 (approx. EUR 34.00 ) off the total cost.

Trademark Licence Agreement
A licence to use a trademark may be granted orally, but the terms of such licences may be difficult to prove. Licensors should grant licences in writing. Exclusive licences must be in writing to be legally effective. Licensing of unregistered marks is permitted. A licence to use a registered trademark may be general or limited to some of the goods and/or services covered by the trademark registration or to the use of the mark in a particular manner or a particular locality. This should be done to ensure that the licensor maintains control of the quality of the goods and/or services supplied to the public using the trademark. A failure to do so may lead to the loss of the trademark. Sub-licences may be granted by the licensee. The sale of a registered mark does not automatically terminate the licence agreement. Unless the licence provides otherwise, it is binding on a successor in title to the grantor’s interest. There are no statutory provisions which require specific terms to be incorporated into a licence agreement.

Recordal
The grant of a licence under a registered trademark is a registrable transaction. It is not mandatory that it is recorded on the Register of Trade Marks but it will affect the licensee’s right to take action if it is not recorded. It is recommended to record the licence promptly, after the rights have been acquired. If the licence is not registered a person claiming to be a licensee by virtue of the transaction does not have the protection of the Trademark Act. If an application to register the licence is not made to the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office within six months of the date of the licence, and the mark is infringed before the licence is registered, the court will not award the licensee its legal costs unless it is satisfied that it was not practicable to have made such an application for recordal before the end of that period, and that an application was made as soon as practicable thereafter. Such circumstances are likely to be rare. Accordingly, it appears that registration of a licence is not mandatory before raising action but it can have an impact on costs recovery.

There is no prescribed form or content for a licence agreement, although it has to be in writing and signed by the licensor to be recorded. The recordal is published in the weekly UK Trade Marks Journal. The licence agreement itself is not published but a third party can request a copy of the licence if it has been submitted to the Intellectual Property Office. It is possible to keep certain documents or parts thereof confidential. It is not necessary to file a copy
of a licence agreement if the person signing the form is authorised to do so on behalf of both parties.

Effectiveness
Trademark licences usually become effective on the date of the licence, unless the agreement provides otherwise.

Infringement Proceedings
There is an evidentiary presumption that use by a recorded licensee is permitted use. A registered user may call upon the trademark owner to institute infringement proceedings. If the owner refuses or neglects to institute infringement proceedings, the registered user may institute proceedings in his own name after a period of two months. A proprietor of a registered trademark who is joined as a defendant shall not be liable for costs in the action unless he takes part in the proceedings.

Search type	First class	Add. class
Word Mark Search (availability)	220,00 €	50,00 €
Word Mark Search (identical)	60,00 €	20,00 €
Extended Search (word mark, company name, domain)	350,00 €	50,00 €
Device Mark Search (availability)	380,00 €	150,00 €
Trademark Owner Search	140,00 €
Company Name Search	150,00 €
Domain Name Search (extended)	72,00 €
i-Search (word mark availability + legal opinion)	475,00 €	175,00 €

The Prices above are S.M.D. Markeur Search Fees

Anguilla (AI)
Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory with its own trademark statute. Anguilla, which was linked with Saint Kitts and Nevis years ago, has its own Patents and Trademarks Registry separate from any other jurisdiction. In addition to local registration, application can be made for registration based upon an existing United Kingdom (UK) trademark. Such applications can be made at any time during the life of the UK trademark and will expire concurrently with the UK trademark. On the other hand, Community Trademarks and International Registrations designating the UK cannot be re-registered in Anguilla. Paris Convention priority is available in Anguilla.

Bermuda (BM)
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory with its own trademark statute. Marks registered in the United Kingdom (UK) cannot be used as the basis for an application in Bermuda but can be used as evidence in support of a claim of distinctiveness. Paris Convention priority is not available in Bermuda.

British Indian Ocean Territory (IO)
The British Indian Ocean Territory is a British Overseas Territory with no own trademark law. The territory is not inhabited, except for scientific research teams and military personnel. United Kingdom (UK) registrations automatically provide protection. Community Trademarks and International Registrations designating the United Kingdom are not valid in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

British Virgin Islands (VG)
British Virgin Islands are a British Overseas Territory with its own trademark statute. In addition to local registration, application can be made for registration based upon an existing United Kingdom (UK) trademark. Such applications can be made at any time during the life of the UK trademark and will expire concurrently with the UK trademark. On the other hand, Community Trademarks and International Registrations designating the UK cannot be re-registered in British Virgin Islands. Local registrations are within the old British Classification system of 1938 and service marks cannot be registered except by way of re-registering a service mark that has already been registered in the UK. Paris Convention priority is not available in British Virgin Islands.

Cayman Islands (KY)
Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory with its own trademark statute. The Patents and Trade Marks Law provides only for the registration of trademarks previously registered in the United Kingdom (UK), or as a Community Trademark, or as an International Registration with extension of rights to a European Union jurisdiction. Application may be made at any time during the life of the base registration and the resulting period of validity is identical to that of the underlying base registration. Since all applications in Cayman Islands must be based upon an existing registration, Paris Convention priority is not available. All trademarks registered in Cayman Islands must be maintained annually with payment of a fee due on January 1st of each year; a penalty applies to late payment.

Falkland Islands (FK)
The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory with its own trademark law. It no longer includes its former dependencies South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. However, Falkland Islands legislation allows for the extension of United Kingdom (UK) trademark rights without re-registration. These then expire concurrently with the UK trademark. Extension of a Community Trademark is automatic in the Falkland Islands if the mark is also registered in the UK. This protection is based on national law and not on European Union law. International Registrations designating the UK also have effect in the Falkland Islands. The period of opposition against International Registrations designating the UK is 2 months minus 1 day from the date of national publication.

Gibraltar (GI)
Gibraltar is an independent member within the British Commonwealth. United Kingdom (UK) national rights can extend but only when separately applied for at the Gibraltar Registry. Applications can be made at any time during the life of the UK trademark and will expire concurrently with the UK trademark. Community Trademarks and International Registrations designating the European Union (EU) automatically extend to Gibraltar. The period of opposition against International Registrations designating the EU is 3 months, commencing 6 months after the OHIM publication date.

Guernsey (GG)
Guernsey is a Crown dependency with its own trademark law. Trademarks registered in Guernsey receive protection within the jurisdiction for 10 years, renewable for like periods. In addition to local registration, the registered owner of a United Kingdom (UK) registered trademark, or a person deriving a right from the registered owner, may apply for registration based on the UK trademark. Applications can be made at any time during the life of the UK trademark and will expire concurrently with the UK trademark. Community Trademarks do not have effect in Guernsey. Individuals or companies who do not have either their domicile or their principal place of business or a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in the European Community must be represented before the Trademark Office in all proceedings with the exception of filing applications for Community Trademarks. Since Guernsey is not part of the European Union (EU), an applicant has to be represented before the office. International Registrations designating the UK do not cover Guernsey.

Isle of Man (IM)
Isle of Man is a self-governing Crown dependency of the United Kingdom (UK). It is part of the British Isles, but neither a part of Great Britain nor of the United Kingdom. It has no own trademark law. UK law is extended to the Isle of Man. UK trademarks are automatically valid in the Isle of Man. Although the Isle of Man is not part of the European Union, Community Trademarks are recognised and protected without re-registration. UK membership of the Madrid Protocol extends to the Isle of Man. The period of opposition against International Registrations designating the UK is 2 months minus 1 day from the date of national publication.

Jersey (JE)
Jersey is a self-governing Crown Dependency of the United Kingdom (UK) with its own legislative assembly, legal system and administration, including intellectual property laws. The owner of a UK registered mark may apply for registration based on the UK trademark. Applications can be made at any time during the life of the UK trademark and will expire concurrently with the UK trademark. New trademark legislation was introduced in October 2000 to extend protection to Community Trademarks (without re-registration) and International Registrations. Amendments to the Community Trademarks regulations in 2004 now allow for Community Trademarks applications from Jersey to be accepted by OHIM. International Registrations designating the UK also extended to Jersey. The period of opposition against International Registrations designating the UK is 2 months minus one day from the date of national publication.

Montserrat (MS)
Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory with its own trademark statute. In addition to local registration, application can be made for registration based upon an existing United Kingdom (UK) trademark. Such applications can be made at any time during the life of the UK trademark and will expire concurrently with the UK trademark. On the other hand, Community Trademarks and International Registrations designating the UK cannot be re-registered in Montserrat. Local registrations are within the old British Classification system of 1938 and service marks cannot be registered except by way of re-registering a service mark that has already been registered in the UK. Paris Convention priority is not available in Montserrat.

Pitcairn Islands (PN)
The Pitcairn Islands are a self-governing British Overseas Territory without its own trademark law. No further information is available. Community Trademarks and International Registrations designating the United Kingdom (UK) are not valid in the Pitcairn Islands.

Saint Helena (SH)
Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory without its own trademark law. Only the owner of a United Kingdom (UK) registered trademark may apply for registration based on a UK trademark. Applications can be made at any time during the life of the UK trademark and will expire concurrently with the UK trademark. Community Trademarks and International Registrations designating the UK do not have effect in Saint Helena.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GS)
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands are a British Overseas Dependent Territory, formerly dependencies of the Falkland Islands. The territory is not inhabited, except for scientific research teams and military personnel. There is no intellectual property rights legislation applicable in this territory. United Kingdom (UK) trademarks do not extend to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Community Trademarks are not valid in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. International Registrations designating the United Kingdom do not extend to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Turks and Caicos Islands (TC)
Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory with its own trademark statute. In addition to local registration, application can be made for registration based upon an existing United Kingdom (UK) trademark. Such applications can be made at any time during the life of the UK trademark and will expire concurrently with the UK trademark. On the other hand, Community Trademarks and International Registrations designating the UK cannot be re-registered in Turks and Caicos Islands. Paris Convention priority is available in Turks and Caicos Islands. All trademarks registered in Turks and Caicos Islands must be maintained annually with payment of a fee due on January 1st of each year; a penalty applies to late payment.